The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-06

for st. Louis within her history.
Mayor Francis then welcomed the presi-
dent to the city, and, after another ex-
plosion of cheers, the president responded
as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
"If am expected to make an extended
speech on this occasion, am afraid that
l shall disappoint you, and this shall be
sorry to do after having succeeded at
last, through many tribulations, in stand
ing face to face with my st. Louis friends.
The tribulation of which l speak has
arisen from the extreme kindness of a
vast number of the American people, and
the cordial invitations that they have ten
dered me to stop and see them on my
way to you. Your city was my objective
point on my travels in this direction,
but it has sometimes seemed
to me that every town between
Washington and here has been repre-
sented as being directly on my route, and
it has been hard TO convince their kind
and enthusiastic citizens that it would not
have been entirely easy, within the time
at my disposal, to pay them a visit. My
inclination leading me in the direction of
their desires, it has been difficult matter
to resist their opportunities, but I have
made up my mind that the people of St.
Louis are to blame for the entire per-
plexity and disappointment which this
matter has caused, for it was through them
that 1 was induced to leave home at all.
l expect that anything might say con-
cerning your state or city in the way of
laudation, or congratulation, would hardly
equal your own estimate of these subjects.
believe there was time when st. Louis
was determined and jealous rival of
Chicago. don't know whether this con-
dition continues or not, but l hope it
does. While you can hardly expect a
locker On to take sides in such con-
test, we are interested to the ex-
tent that such struggle adds to
the growth and improvement of the
country at large. Both of these cities
exemplify, in a wonderful degree, how
completely and how speedily American
energy and business ingenuity use every
available element of municipal growth,
and how every useful type of
the worlds population is assimi-
lated to the grand purpose of
American expansion. am here re-
minded of what suppose to be the fact,
that more than one-half of your voters
are of foreign descent and parentage.
The growth and increase of your
city in every way indicate this.
think that the condition of your popu-
lation, thus made apparent, is by no
means to be deprecated, and my obser-
vation during long residence in a city
similarly situated has led me to know
the value to any community of industri-
Gus, frugal and thrifty men and women,
who come from foreign lands to find new
homes with us, who invest themselves
with our citizenship, and who are satisfied
and contented with the freedom of our
government, and with our laws and insti-
tutions. The line is easily drawn between
them and the non-assimilating emigrants
who seek our shores solely for the
purpose of involving disturbance
and disadvantage to our body
polite. I hope 1 may, without impro-
priety, say this much in recognition of
what has been done for st. Louis by its
naturalized citizens, as we'll as in remem-
brance of the many kind and valued
friends and associates of former days, ,thatI
deem myself especially fortunate in being
with you at time when the manufac-
lures and products of your city and sur
rounding country are on exhibition at
your fair, one of the largest in the
country. Those who seek the best and
surest evidence of your substantial pros
perity may we'll be satisfied here.
| shall see things which are con-
elusive of thrift, wealth and COM
Portable homes. I hope to see
besides while here certain features of your
city's life, which Just at this time are un-
usually displayed, and which establish the
fact that the people of st. Louis, with all
their business engagements, and with all
their toll and stirring trade, are not averse
to pleasure and enjoyment. l nope that
you will find your visitors to be interested
sjght-seers, and of one thing you may be
assured, however much you may impress
US with the greatness of your city, we are
certain to have our hearts filled with CRATE
full appreciation of the kindness and hos
pitality of your people.
THREE OR FOUR TIMES
during the presidents remarks, at every
pause, in fact, some voice proposed three
cheers for Grover Cleveland, and the
lungs of the multitude responded. The
band greeted the close of his remarks
with national air, and the presidential
party filed out the entrance aisle that had
been kept open by the police. The
streets were jammed with people, and it
was with difficulty that Mr.. Cleveland was
gotten into his carriage. When there
citizens pressed to his side and EXTENDED
their hands in vain.
81 will greet you all LATER" said the
Dresident "but not here"
From the exchange the president and
his companions were escorted in their
carriages through the principal business
streets. Ihe ride lasted about an hour.
Everywhere along the route crowds of
people awaited and greeted the guest of
the day. The police arrangements were
excellent, and there was no disorder, the
crowds manifesting their enthusiasm in
cheers and noise, and refraining from
crowding about or following the car
riages. The most conspicuous feature of
the decorations was an array of gas Jets,
each lamp and awning post bearing a
branching tree of piping, while at the
street corners great arches were thrown
across from curb to curb. These bore a
million colored globes, the effect of
which, even in daylight, was striking.
The cortege reached the Lindell at 2
O'clock, where ths rooms, including a se-
ries of large parlors, had been secured for
the president. An hour was given for
lunch and rest, and at o'clock, Mrs.